Air Force officers allegedly kill Lagos driver after minor accident

A 43-year-old commercial bus driver, Joseph Okpe, has died after he was reportedly beaten by a group of Nigerian Air Force officers. This happened following a disagreement over a minor traffic accident involving their vehicle.

PUNCH Metro learned on Monday that the incident took place on May 9 along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, where the officers allegedly attacked the deceased.

Details of the incident are in an Affidavit of Facts filed in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama. This affidavit was made available to PUNCH Metro on Monday.

In the affidavit, Joseph’s brother, Innocent Okpe, stated that Joseph was doing his job as a commercial bus driver when Air Force personnel in a Coaster bus with registration number GO 1, 14AF confronted him.

The officers allegedly accused him of damaging their vehicle and demanded N100,000 as compensation.

When Joseph could not pay the amount, the officers reportedly attacked him, punching and hitting his face and head until he was nearly unconscious.

PUNCH Metro learned that the assault stopped only after passersby and other commercial drivers intervened and pleaded with the officers.

According to the affidavit, the bystanders offered to gather N50,000 to cover the damage to the vehicle.

After the officers left the scene, Joseph was rushed to multiple hospitals but was allegedly denied treatment.

A source familiar with the situation, who asked to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the case, said Joseph was finally taken to Charing Cross Clinic in Mushin, Lagos, where he was declared dead around 5pm.

"The incident happened sometime after 3pm. He went to several hospitals, but they refused to admit him.

"They reached the last hospital around 5pm, and he was pronounced dead there. He died on the same day," the source said.

The incident was reported to the Ilasa Police Division.

The case is now with the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, after being transferred from the Ilasa division, according to the source.

A Medical Certificate of Cause of Death signed by Dr Okechukwu Ogboo of Charing Cross Clinic, Mushin, dated May 13, 2026, stated that the primary cause of death was a "severe head injury," with "pulmonary failure until his death" as the secondary cause.

PUNCH Metro reports that Joseph leaves behind three children and a wife.

When contacted on Monday, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, said she would check on the incident and give an update.

But as of the time this report was filed, she had not provided any information.

PUNCH Metro reports that this is not the first time Air Force personnel have faced accusations of assaulting civilians, including journalists in Lagos.

In March 2025, armed personnel from the Air Force Base in Ikeja reportedly attacked PUNCH correspondent Dare Olawin at the Ikeja Electric headquarters, located opposite MITV in Ikeja.

Meanwhile, when contacted on Monday about the May 9 incident, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, did not answer calls or respond to WhatsApp messages from our correspondent.